Christmas Bird Count: Atitlan Volcano 2014
Compiled by Knut Eisermann
The 8th Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano took place on 15 December 2014. A total of 21 observers in 6 groups counted birds in Reserva Natural Privada Los Tarrales, Finca San Jerónimo Miramar, Fincas Santo Tomás Perdido and Santa Teresa, and in the bay of Santiago Atitlán of Lake Atitlán. Weather conditions were favorable, with clear sky in the morning and 100% cloud coverage in the afternonn, without rain.
A total of 2804 birds of 216 species was recorded, 31 more species were observed during the count week. The most abundant species during this Christmas Bird Count with more than 50 detected individuals were (in descending order of abundance): Barn Swallow, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Orange-fronted Parakeet, Great-tailed Grackle, Black Vulture, Tennessee Warbler, American Coot, and Baltimore Oriole.
Many of the endemics of northern Central American highlands were recorded during the count week, including Horned Guan, Highland Guan, Fulvous Owl, Azure-rumped Tanager, Blue-throated Motmot, Rufous Sabrewing, Green-throated Mountain-gem, Wine-throated Hummingbird, Rufous-browed Wren, Black-capped Swallow, Black-throated Jay, and Rufous-collared Thrush. Noteworthy was the observation of four Horned Guans in Los Tarrales.
Three species, Killdeer, Franklin's Gull, and Common Ground-Dove, were recorded for the first time during a Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán volcano. Stygian Owl, Amazon Kingfisher, and Black-crowned Night-Heron entered the Atitlan Volcano CBC list through observations in the count week.
Atitlán volcano is part of the Atitlán Important Bird Area (IBA GT015) and this Christmas Bird Count helps to monitor bird populations in this IBA. Among the species of conservation concern recorded during the 2014 count were three globally Endangered species (Horned Guan, Golden-cheeked Warbler, Azure-rumped Tanager), and a Vulnerable species (Highland Guan).
It follows a list of species and numbers of individuals recorded during the seventh Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano (Nomenclature according to AOU 1998 and supplements, most recent update AOU 2014). Species recorded during the count week are marked with (cw).
- Anatidae
- Blue-winged Teal Anas discors (cw)
- Cracidae
- White-bellied Chachalaca Ortalis leucogastra 23
- Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens 12
- Highland Guan Penelopina nigra 4
- Horned Guan Oreophasis derbianus (cw)
- Odontophoridae
- Spotted Wood-Quail Odontophorus guttatus 1
- Singing Quail Dactylortyx thoracicus 2
- Ardeidae
- Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 3
- Great Egret Ardea alba 17
- Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea 1
- Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor 1
- Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 15
- Green Heron Butorides virescens 11
- Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax (cw)
- Cathartidae
- Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 75
- Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 48
- King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa (cw)
- Pandionidae
- Osprey Pandion haliaetus 2
- Accipitridae
- Common Black Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus (cw)
- Great Black Hawk Buteogallus urubitinga 1
- White Hawk Pseudastur albicollis 1
- Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris 3
- Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus (cw)
- Gray Hawk Buteo plagiatus 5
- Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus (cw)
- Zone-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus 1
- Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus 2
- Rallidae
- Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinicus 12
- Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata 6
- American Coot Fulica americana 60
- Charadriidae
- Killdeer Charadrius vociferus 3
- Scolopacidae
- Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius 1
- Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria (cw)
- Laridae
- Franklin's Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan 3
- Columbidae
- Red-billed Pigeon Patagioenas flavirostris 19
- Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata (cw)
- Inca Dove Columbina inca 6
- Common Ground-Dove Columbina passerina 2
- Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina talpacoti 2
- Ruddy Quail-Dove Geotrygon montana 1
- White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 15
- White-faced Quail-Dove Zentrygon albifacies 1
- White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica 7
- Cuculidae
- Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 8
- Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris 3
- Strigidae
- Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus 3
- Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma (cw)
- Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum 2
- Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata 7
- Fulvous Owl Strix fulvescens (cw)
- Stygian Owl Asio stygius (cw)
- Caprimulgidae
- Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis 50
- Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis 14
- Apodidae
- Chestnut-collared Swift Streptoprocne rutila 4
- White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris (cw)
- Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi 25
- Trochilidae
- Green Violetear Colibri thalassinus 6
- Green-breasted Mango Anthracothorax prevostii 1
- Magnificent Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens 2
- Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris 6
- Green-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis viridipallens 3
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris 27
- Wine-throated Hummingbird Atthis ellioti (cw)
- Emerald-chinned Hummingbird Abeillia abeillei 14
- Rufous Sabrewing Campylopterus rufus 2
- Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus 7
- White-bellied Emerald Amazilia candida 8
- Azure-crowned Hummingbird Amazilia cyanocephala 1
- Berylline Hummingbird Amazilia beryllina 5
- Blue-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia cyanura 11
- Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila 6
- Blue-throated Goldentail Hylocharis eliciae 7
- Trogonidae
- Gartered Trogon Trogon caligatus 2
- Collared Trogon Trogon collaris 7
- Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno (cw)
- Momotidae
- Tody Motmot Hylomanes momotula 6
- Blue-throated Motmot Aspatha gularis 7
- Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota 15
- Turquoise-browed Motmot Eumomota superciliosa 1
- Alcedinidae
- Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon 1
- Amazon Kingfisher Chloroceryle amazona (cw)
- Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana (cw)
- Ramphastidae
- Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus 11
- Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus 1
- Picidae
- Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus 2
- Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons 24
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius (cw)
- Smoky-brown Woodpecker Picoides fumigatus 4
- Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus (cw)
- Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus 15
- Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus (cw)
- Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 6
- Falconidae
- Barred Forest-Falcon Micrastur ruficollis 2
- Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus 1
- Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans 4
- American Kestrel Falco sparverius 4
- Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis 2
- Psittacidae
- Orange-fronted Parakeet Eupsittula canicularis 83
- Pacific Parakeet Psittacara strenuus 40
- Barred Parakeet Bolborhynchus lineola 4
- Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis 99
- White-fronted Parrot Amazona albifrons (cw)
- Yellow-naped Parrot Amazona auropalliata 24
- Thamnophilidae
- Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus 14
- Furnariidae
- Tawny-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus mexicanus 3
- Ruddy Woodcreeper Dendrocincla homochroa 1
- Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster 7
- Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius 3
- Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis 2
- Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia variegaticeps 1
- Ruddy Foliage-gleaner Clibanornis rubiginosus 3
- Rufous-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis erythrothorax 3
- Tyrannidae
- Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma imberbe 5
- Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata 5
- Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster 2
- Paltry Tyrannulet Zimmerius vilissimus 13
- Northern Bentbill Oncostoma cinereigulare 2
- Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum 8
- Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhynchocyclus brevirostris 1
- Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens 5
- Tufted Flycatcher Mitrephanes phaeocercus (cw)
- Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi 1
- Greater Pewee Contopus pertinax 7
- Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus 9
- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris 6
- Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus 11
- Hammond's Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii 1
- Yellowish Flycatcher Empidonax flavescens 11
- Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans 5
- Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer 9
- Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus 3
- Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus (cw)
- Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 20
- Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis 21
- Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus 37
- Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis 6
- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus 3
- Tityridae
- Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata 11
- Gray-collared Becard Pachyramphus major 1
- Rose-throated Becard Pachyramphus aglaiae 3
- Pipridae
- Long-tailed Manakin Chiroxiphia linearis 14
- Vireonidae
- Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons 4
- Plumbeous Vireo Vireo plumbeus 1
- Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius 8
- Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus 15
- Brown-capped Vireo Vireo leucophrys 1
- Vireo sp. 2
- Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus decurtatus 8
- Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius melitophrys 1
- Green Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius pulchellus 2
- Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis 12
- Corvidae
- Black-throated Jay Cyanolyca pumilo (cw)
- White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa 9
- Bushy-crested Jay Cyanocorax melanocyaneus 25
- Hirundinidae
- Gray-breasted Martin Progne chalybea 2
- Black-capped Swallow Notiochelidon pileata (cw)
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis 92
- Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva 22
- Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 185
- Aegithalidae
- Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus 10
- Troglodytidae
- House Wren Troglodytes aedon 9
- Rufous-browed Wren Troglodytes rufociliatus (cw)
- Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus 10
- Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha 14
- Spot-breasted Wren Pheugopedius maculipectus 16
- Rufous-and-white Wren Thryophilus rufalbus 9
- Plain Wren Cantorchilus modestus 25
- White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta 3
- Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys 1
- Polioptilidae
- Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus 4
- Polioptilidae
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 1
- Turdidae
- Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis 2
- Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis 13
- Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus aurantiirostris 12
- Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush Catharus frantzii 1
- Spotted Nightingale-Thrush Catharus dryas 1
- Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus 12
- Black Thrush Turdus infuscatus 7
- Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi 35
- White-throated Thrush Turdus assimilis 19
- Mimidae
- Blue-and-white Mockingbird Melanotis hypoleucus 6
- Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus 5
- Ptiliogonatidae
- Gray Silky-flycatcher Ptiliogonys cinereus 36
- Parulidae
- Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla 11
- Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum 4
- Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis 1
- Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora cyanoptera 2
- Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 20
- Crescent-chested Warbler Oreothlypis superciliosa (cw)
- Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina 63
- Nashville Warbler Oreothlypis ruficapilla 1
- Gray-crowned Yellowthroat Geothlypis poliocephala 1
- MacGillivray's Warbler Geothlypis tolmiei 3
- Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas 2
- American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla (cw)
- Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia 10
- Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia 4
- Townsend's Warbler Setophaga townsendi 9
- Golden-cheeked Warbler Setophaga chrysoparia 1
- Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens 11
- Rufous-capped Warbler Basileuterus rufifrons 12
- Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli 1
- Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus 10
- Wilson's Warbler Cardellina pusilla 31
- Pink-headed Warbler Cardellina versicolor (cw)
- Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus 17
- Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens 4
- Thraupidae
- Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus 11
- Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas 47
- Azure-rumped Tanager Tangara cabanisi 21
- Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus 168
- Incertae Sedis
- Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps 50
- Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens 1
- Emberizidae
- Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina 2
- White-collared Seedeater Sporophila torqueola 14
- Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivaceus 6
- Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Arremon brunneinucha 3
- White-naped Brush-Finch Atlapetes albinucha 2
- White-eared Ground-Sparrow Melozone leucotis 23
- Prevost's Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuata 11
- Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis 1
- Common Chlorospingus Chlorospingus flavopectus 16
- Cardinalidae
- Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 13
- Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana 13
- Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata (cw)
- White-winged Tanager Piranga leucoptera 12
- Red-crowned Ant-Tanager Habia rubica 2
- Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fuscicauda 2
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus 21
- Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea 1
- Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea 12
- Painted Bunting Passerina ciris 6
- Icteridae
- Melodious Blackbird Dives dives 20
- Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus 78
- Black-vented Oriole Icterus wagleri 1
- Bar-winged Oriole Icterus maculialatus 5
- Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius 36
- Spot-breasted Oriole Icterus pectoralis 2
- Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis 9
- Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula 51
- Icteridae
- Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus 15
- Fringillidae
- Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis 7
- Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea 13
- Elegant Euphonia Euphonia elegantissima 6
- Blue-crowned Chlorophonia Chlorophonia occipitalis 9
- Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria 20
- Hooded Grosbeak Coccothraustes abeillei 6
- Passeridae
- House Sparrow Passer domesticus (cw)
References
AOU (1998) The American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. 7th edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.
AOU (2014) Fifty-fifth supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union check-list of North American birds. Auk 131: CSi-CSxv. DOI: 10.1642/AUK-14-124.1.
To see results of all Christmas Bird Counts throughout the Americas visit http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count.
